LOGAN – College basketball games can be wild. In-state rivalry college basketball games are even more likely to be that way.
The series between Weber State and Utah State is no exception. The last time Weber State was in the Spectrum the Wildcats had an 18-point halftime lead, but the Aggies ended up winning by 11. Last year’s win in Ogden came by three points after 11 lead changes.
USU head coach Tim Duryea said to not expect anything different from Wednesday’s game.
Weber State is currently 4-6 with two-straight wins, the most recent was a 95-83 victory over Utah Valley Saturday in Ogden. Aggie senior Jalen Moore said with a team coming in that can score 90-plus points, USU has to play tough defense.
“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “They’re not going to come in here and lay down for us. We’ve got to go down, play tough, play physical, with effort and confidence.”
Weber State is led by Jeremy Senglin, a 6-foot-2 senior guard that has averaged 18.7 points per game this year and was named the Big West Conference’s men’s basketball player of the week Tuesday. Moore said Senglin will the be main guy the Aggie defense will have to guard.
“He can take over games,” Moore said.
Duryea mentioned Dusty Baker and Ryan Richardson as two other Weber State guys that can shoot the ball. He said sophomore forward/center Zack Braxton has really improved his post play since the last time the two teams met.
“They give you problems all over the floor,” Duryea said. “Defensively because they can make you decide how you’re going to guard the post and then they can shoot from the 3.”
Duryea said that offensively, his team needs to smooth things out, limit turnovers and find added rhythm. The Aggies had 15 turnovers Monday night against New Orleans.
“One thing about Weber you can count on is they’re not going to beat themselves,” he said. “They’re not going to turn the ball over with unforced errors and you’re going to have to play well.”
This will be USU’s last game before opening up conference play. It will also be the last time seniors Jalen Moore and Shane Rector will play a game against an in-state opponent.
“To think about it like that, it’s crazy,” Moore said. “Last in-state game. It would be nice to go out with a win.”